Walking such a simple thing that we do everyday...all day! We do it for pleasure, exercise, to make sure our dog receives the proper exercise, to go shopping, to go to the refrigerator, and many other daily activities. We walk on many different surfaces as well, some level and some not so level. We walk in many different foot coverings, and with summer here flip-flops and sandals are the footwear of choice. Are you asking what this has to do with Tensegrity and compression? I will start to explain... 

Over the past twenty-five years I have had many come to me that have problems in their knees, hips, low back, and yes, even the neck and shoulder region that has been traced back to improper walking patterns; that continually beat up their poor feet. People have tried all different forms of footwear and orthotics to make their feet and bodies comfortable. What most of these items do is create a form of compensation and become temporary relief aids, similar to ibuprofen or other forms of pain relief. When I explain the improprieties in their walking they often look at me and say nobody walks like that. My standard answer is babies and monkeys. 

How am I supposed to walk? Great question with a simple answer! Mechanically one must remember that muscles pull and bones push. Movement begins with the perception of the environment we are in and is processed by the brain. In walking the brain must determine what surface we are on, what obstacles are in our path, what we have protecting our feet, the speed at which we are to move, and as it processes all of this information, develops the process so that it may happen. 

The proper mechanics of walking have us extend one leg in front of the other as we move through space. On our forward foot we strike with our heel first and allow the 26 bones to articulate and experience what the brain is processing. As these 26 bones move they will roll up on to the fat pads behind the toes, it is at this point where many create the conundrum that changes our posture. They hike their hip and pull their trail leg through instead of allowing the back foot to roll up and create the pull necessary for the trail leg to push through. Most individuals never roll up on the front foot but keep their heel down and this aborts the process. 
By allowing the foot to move correctly it will force the knees to bend properly therefore taking all pressure off of the hip joint. This is healthy for both the feet and knee joints and will reduce the compression on these joints. Results, less pain and discomfort!

Remember that there are multipliers used in determining the amount of force generated at the joints, but if we just perform the basics there is no need to concern ourselves with this. So when we walk we must consciously remember in the beginning to stride maybe a little bit shorter, let the body determine its speed, and allow the mechanical aspects to work. Stride forward and let the heel strike, roll through the front foot so the heel is elevated, as this happens the back foot will start to flex, allow the knee to bend and the thigh bone will fulfill the push forward of the trail leg. This is what creates the propulsion of walking and will help the individual prevent many discomforts.

What does the therapist need to look for here? Most therapists look at the gait and everything looks "normal". What we need to do is become more mechanical in our views and truly understand what is happening. Are the individuals pulling through their gait or are they allowing the proper Tensegrity to take place? The lower leg muscles receive their information from all of the ligaments of the ankle and foot. If there is not proper placement of the ligaments there is no conceivable way that the brain will be able to process the information. How is the foot striking, is there proper roll through so that all of the ligaments are actually performing their tasks?Is the ankle moving in the proper pattern? Are the lower leg muscles performing their tasks? Is the Psoas muscle or hip flexor working correctly? This muscle attaches to the first four lumbar vertebrae's and traverses through to the thigh bone (Femur). In leg extension the fibers that attach to the lumbar vertebrae need to fire in a sequential pattern from the first lumbar to the fourth. On flexion of the knee and plantar flexion of the foot the muscle must fire from the fourth lumbar to the first, if not there is not a proper mechanical action in the foot, knee, and hip. As you can see this is a very complex issue that needs to be neurologically reset.

I will continue to write about this in the next few blogs as it is an overwhelming subject. We will be doing a video on it and the Wellness Center will be holding "Walking" classes with a view point on movement, strengthening, and specific yoga exercises that will help. 

So until next week - remember there is always a Reason to HOPE!

Peace,


Dennis

The spine's ability to move is directly related to the body's ability to accommodate the compressible forces of gravity. The foot's composition is what enables the spine to absorb minimal shock and function under a more natural format. Once the foot is unable to function correctly the spine is the next largest shock absorbing region of the body.

The body's ability to cope with everyday compressive forces is what this weeks blog is all about. Before we go there, it has been requested of me to see if many of our homebound therapists will be able to use these blog's as continuing education. I will investigate that request and see if that is possible. Please look for further information.

Gravity is the force that keeps us literally grounded and also plays havoc with our skeleton. As I have stated in the past it is the vertical position that does us in. In my early years of Massage Therapy it was always easy to have someone feel better in the horizontal position but once we got them vertical, their problems seemed to reappear. Movement and gravity are the main culprits.

Since the human is bipedal there is a greater need for proper Tensegrity on the skeleton. Gravity places approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch on the skeleton, it becomes apparent that the body's "built in" shock absorbing system becomes over taxed. You might say "but I sit all day, why does my back and hips still hurt, I am not standing" . I have found over the last 25 years that sitting is one of the hardest movements we perform on a regular basis. As I sit here writing this blog and looking down at the computer screen, (it is Thursday morning and I am sitting on my patio), my head is forward, my back arched, and all the pressure is in my hip joints and low back. Every couple of minutes I need to sit up and take a sip of coffee to help relieve pressure. My feet are flat on the ground but they are almost none existent in reference to support; meaning my sitz bones are rolled forward and forcing my lower back to be the fulcrum in this position.
(This is what it was made to do, but not for a long duration).

During the last six months I have been conducting a private study on reoccurring neck pain; I have found in approximately 80% of my cases, the pain was because the 26 bones of the foot are not functioning optimally. I have noticed also that many of the shoulder problems are directly related to this dilemma. The foot has the ability to offset many of life's physical stressors and we have over the years abused them and wondered why we have the outbreak of arthritis and joint pain.

The skeleton's ability to move is based on a true Tensegrity model, which is an even push/pull. How does this model work? The bones in the body are held together by ligaments, which have four vital qualities. These four qualities are positioning of the bones so they the body is in a  position to move; stabilizing the bones so they move in a proper manner; move the bones in an orderly fashion; and control the speed of movement so injury is prevented. The nerves that tie in to the ligaments on the pull side of the equation are sensory nerves and they relay the proper messages to the brain that allow the tendons to initiate the movement by pull on the bones. Once the brain has determined what it is going to generate the movement its conditioning will help determine how much force the muscle fiber needs to generate to complete the movement. When properly balanced we should be able to move against that 14.7 pounds per square inch of force. That is the premise of Tensegrity.

With movement there is a dynamic force generated where the brain has to accommodate the force of the push; this is where the body's shock absorbing system comes into play. There are discs strategically placed in the spine, pelvis, and knee regions, that will absorb the pressure on these areas. The principal shock absorber is the foot. These 26 bones are placed in a specific pattern that will undulate with every step, aide in both sitting down and standing up. There are three structural parts known as our arches that will direct the bones to move in a pattern that will reduce the impact on other joints throughout the body including our jaws. When these arches are compromised their capabilities are severely reduced and force the other areas to recieve more of the impact of compression.

The ankle joint is a primary component in movement and when the foot is incapable of absorbing the compressive forces will often place the ankle in a position of compensation. The ankle joint only moves approximately a half inch up and down. Most people think that there is a large movement in the ankle but normally engage their toes in the movement process. The problem with this is the ligaments of the ankle are what send the proper messages to the muscle that aide in flexing the hip joint (Psoas). As this information is impeded to the brain, the brain will begin the process of figuring out a workable, not always a favorable, pattern of movement. When this pattern is repeated, hip or knee pain ensues.

In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh(R) this issued is addressed by the reconnection of the nerves between the ankle and the hip flexor. Once this connection is made the brain will release its hold on the ligaments it has repositioned throughout the body for the purpose of accommodating movement. This re-patterning of the Tensegrity is what allows the body's natural posture to be recreated.

Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh(R) is formulated to explore the unnatural tensions to the skeleton and by reducing those abnormal tensions with a more positive pattern so that the brain can take a break and let the brain, gland, and soft tissue systems relax.

What this balanced tension does to the foot is allow the 26  bones to move independently off one another, and to better cope with the environment  that is encountered. We often enclose our feet in tight fitting, but fashionable shoes, and really never allow our feet to expand and contract like they are meant to. This brings me to the next component of the body, the Fascia or connective tissue system. Why is this important, because it is what holds everything together. The Fascia system starts on the underside of the skull (above the brain) and encapsulates all of the organs, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and bones of the body.

Next week we will continue this discussion of the body's ability to function under a more natural form of tension and be able to function in a natural way. Till next week, remember there is always a Reason to HOPE! for a more comfortable lifestyle.

Dennis

The lower extremities or legs of the human skeleton are our propulsion units that allow us to stand, walk, run, and move in different directions. They are composed of a Femur or thigh bone, a Patella or kneecap, Tibia or shin bone, Fibula or small shin bone, an ankle, and a foot. The foot is composed of 26 bones and has many functions that we will discuss.

The relationship that the lower extremities have with the Pelvis is an interesting one. By being a bipedal or a two footed individual, the hip joint takes on a new dimension. In the instance of an animal or quadrupedal creature the hip joint is primarily a mover that doesn't have to support the full body weight for prolonged periods of time. In fact most quadrupedal creatures only go on their hind legs in cases of self defense or feeding. Humans on the other hand require their hip joints to help support and move at the same time. The head of the Femur or thigh bone is a round object that fits into a round space. The problem arises in the movement of the thigh bone during ambulation in that it moves in an elliptical pattern. In other words you have a round object moving in a manner that creates an unusual stress pattern to the joint. When this joint is misaligned or the tension on the joint is not in a natural state many instances and different scenarios of pain are prevalent. You are taking a round object and moving it in an oval format. This is just one of the issues are abused hip joints are subject too. 

In today's society we often overlook the fact that male and female pelvis' are different. The female pelvis is 5 degrees wider than the male pelvis. This little engineering adjustment is often overlooked in many of the movements that are performed in today's busy lifestyles. It is also the indirect cause of many of the common pain issues that are experienced such as Sciatica, chronic hip and knee pain, low back discomfort (normally in the vertical from the tailbone upward), foot and ankle discomfort and yes it does affect the jaw. This engineering discrepancy needs to always be factored in when assessing the Pelvic Girdle. This will also alter the alignment of the hip joint especially in women that are or have been pregnant. 

The Femur or thigh bone is affected by large muscles such as the Quadriceps (front of the thigh), Hamstrings (back of the thigh), the adductor muscles which line the inner thigh, and the large tendon that runs down the outside part of the thigh. There are many smaller muscles that will accommodate the larger movement and make those subtle little adjustments as sit, stand, and move.

The Tibia and Fibula or shin bones are supportive bones as the larger of the two supports 1/2 of 80% of body weight, while the Fibula or the outside smaller bone supports 20%. The Tibia also makes up the bottom have of the knee joint and the upper portion of the ankle joint so is very instrumental in the lower legs ability to adjust to small changes as the body senses them. 

The knee cap protects the joint from blunt trauma and acts as guide for the pulling of the Quadriceps on the Tibia (shin bone). 

This brings us to the mechanical end of the leg, the FOOT! These 26 bones will have an effect on the entire body. Mechanically I have found their dysfunction to cause problems throughout the body. Recently a young girl with chronic neck pain came in and after a couple of sessions the realization came that the collapse of her arches were causing the neck to have to sustain abnormal pressures.

Next week we will delve into more of the issues found in the lower extremity and how they affect your day to day activities. Until then, remember there is always................

a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis